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` Y l' lx 10 Sheets-Sheet. 2. P. HEILM-A-NN-DUCOMMUNYv C. V..STBINLEN. Machinery lfor Gombing'Timms-Substances. No. 224,428. Patented Feb. 10, 1.880.

N. PETERS. PHDTO-UTHDGRAFHER, WASHINGTQN. D\C.

` l 10 Sheets-8118883. P. HBILMANN-DUCOMMUN 8v C. VV. STEINLEN.

` Machine-ry Ifor -C-'ombing Pibrous Snibstance8V Ne. 224,428. Patented Feb. 1o, 1880.

ILPETERS. PHOTO UTHOGRAPH 10 Sheets-Sheet 5. P. .HEILMANNJ-DUGOMMUN 8v C. V. STEIN'LEN.

Machine'ryfor Cumbng Fibrous Substances.

Patented Feb. 10,-1880.

N.PETERS, FHDTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

` 10 Sheets-@heet` 6. P. HEILMANN-DUCOMMUN 8v C. V. STEINLEN.

Machinery for Combing Fib-r-ous Substances.

Nn. 224,428. Patented Feb. IO, 1880.

N. PEIERS, FHOKLUTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

WN. SB

mm MB .0T *1S .,v. C. ,uw N U VM M O .C U D. N N A M L I E .H R

Patented Feb. 10, 1880.

Machinery forfCombing Fibrous Substances.

' Y 10 Sheets-Sheet 8. P. HEILMANN-DCOMMUNL C. V. STBINLEN.

Machinery for Gombing Fibrous Substances No. 224,428.

Patented 1-= 0,1880.

. Y IOSheets-Sheet 9.

P.' HEILMANN-'DUCOMMUN 8u C. V. STEINLEN. y Machinery for Combing Pbrous Substances. No. 224,428. Patented Feb. 1Q, A1880.

zwaai/mf 2 A 1o`sneets-sheenv1o. xP. HEILMANN-DUGOMMUN 8: C.y V. STEINLEN.

Machinery for. Combi Fibrous Substances. No. 224,428. v tented Feb. 10,1880.

UNITED STATES 4PATENT OFFICE.

, ALsAoE.

MACHINERY' FOR COMBINGFIBROUS suBsTANoEs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent` 316,224,428, dated Febuary 1o, Isso. Application filed August 10, 187B. Patented in France, November 1, 1877, and in England, November 29, 1877.

To all whom 'it may concern Be itknown that we, PAUL HEILMANN DU- ooMMUN and CHARLES V. STEINLEN, of Mulhouse, Alsace, engine-manufacturers, have Vinv 5 vented certain Improvements in Machinery for Combing Fibrousv Substances; and we do hereby declare that the following is a `full, clear, and exact description of the same, reterence being had to theV accompanying drawro ings, making a part of this specification.

Our invention consists, in" part, in a method of cleansing librous matter by tearing the web asunder, combing the parted ends, repiecing, drawing, parting, lcombing again, and repiecing in successive places, as hereinafter `described.

Our invention further consists in the combi` nation, with a suitable feed apparatus, of a pair of nippers having a movementxof transzo lation adapting themv to seizel and draw the front end of the web, as hereinafter described, and suitable mechanism for operatin g the said parts; also, in the combination of two pairs of reciprocating nippers, onemoving relatively 2 5 to the'other, and suitable mechanism for operating them; also, inthe combination of stationary nippersand one or more reciprocating combs, as hereinafter described, and suitable drawing mechanism, and mechanism for operating the above-named parts; also, in the combination, with the stationary nippers, of combs havin g vertical and horizontal movements and suitable mechanism l for operatingthem, as hereinafter explained; also, in the combina- 3 5 tion of reciprocating combs and cleaningbrushes, and mechanism for operating saidV parts, as hereinafter described; also, in the combination of a pair of jaws, one of them provided with an endless apron to change its 40 face, two pairs of drawing-rollers, and a pair of pressure-rollers, all mounted in a movin gframe,

with suitable mechanism for moving the same, as hereinafter explained; also, in the combination ot' the ,drawing and holding nippers land the combs of successive iineness, adaptedA vto operate in succession in the mannerhere inafter explained. f y

A lap or iieece of` fibers is drawn, by means of a pair ot' nippers having a movementof translation, through an apparatus'which parallelizes, combs, and partially cleans the {ilaments, separating from the sheets the laf ments held by the traveling nippers and par. taking of their movement of translation. These filaments, while still held by the clippers, are subjected to the action ot one or two combs or rows of teethto complete their purification. Where two combs are used they are of successive tineness. t

The samecombor segment which hascombed 6o the laments held by the nippers,'as before described, also combs the front ends, which protrude from the feed apparatus, a second comb being employed for finishing these front ends. ,During the Whole combing operation the front ends of the laments and the next succeedingportion are heldby the feed appara/tusand nippers hereinafterreferred to in such manner asto avoid waste by preventing any fibers from being` drawn out or collected 7o by the combing action ina tangled mass just inrearofthe front ends. lThe reciprocating nippers, returning to their irst position, piece up the web,and the `drawing and combing operations arerepeated, the combs having in Vthe meantime been cleaned.

The machine consists, amongother things, of, first, a'feed apparatus which parallelizes and may partially clean the filaments, and' valsov prevents them being drawn out or becom- 8o ing entangled; second, avstationary pair of nippers; third, one orv two combing apparatuses; fourth, an apparatus Ifor cleaning the combs; fifth, a nipper having a movement of translation for drawing out and piecin'g up 85 theweb.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a transverse vertical section of the Vimproved combing-machine.

Figvla is aside elevation of the Aprincipal operative parts. 9o Fig.2 is a detail, and Fig. 3 a front view,`of the said machine. Figs. 4, 5,6, 7, and 8 rep-v resent thel apparatus for cleaning "the combs drawn on a larger scale. Figs. 9, 10,11, 12,

,and 13 illustrate, on a largerscale, the action 95 `of the combing mechanism proper.'

\ The same letters of reference are used in all jthese'igures to designate the same parts.

The feed apparatus, which parallelizes as well ascleansthe fibers, if required, and alsov rooA sustains the web under the combing action, so as to prevent the fibers from being drawn out, varies according to the state of the material to be operated on, and may consist either of a plain cylinder ora cylinder clothed with plain or saw-toothed helical blades, against which the web is pressed by a series of lingers or pressers, or a poreupine-cylinder, such as shown in Figs. 1, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13; or any other suitable arrangement of feed apparatus may be used.

In Figs. 1, 9, 10,11,12, and 13, B B represent the two `jaws of the stationary nippers,wheh are made to press lightly the one against the other while the filaments are drawn from the lap, so as to retain the fibers and prevent them from becoming entangled after the jaws close together, when the combs operate on the front ends, or that portion of the filaments which is in front of the feed apparatus and the nippers B B. The v,latter are actuated by a cam, P, acting on alever, P.

The combing apparatus for completing the purification ofthe filaments is shown in Figs. l, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. C C are two combs or segments with teeth, which may be of' progressive ineness, if desired. Each comb has two movements-viz., an up-and-down movement, or vice versa, and a movement of' translationto which may be added a rocking movement. The first of these movements is given to the lower comb by a lever, D, oscil- Iated on a center at d by the action of a cam, D.

The movement of translation is produced by the lever E being made to oscillate on a eenter at e by the action of a cam, E', and the rocking or oscillating movement of the comb; but this is not an essential part of the present invention. When such motion is required it is obtained by a toothed segment-lever actuating a pinion fixed on the axis of the comb and operated by a cam.

The np-and-down movement of the upper comb is produced by lever T, oscillated on a center, t, by cam T. The movement ot' translation is produced by the lever U, oscillated 011 a center at c by cam U', and the oscillating movement of the comb, (illustrated at U in dotted lines in Fig. 4,) when such movement is employed, is produced, as in the other comb, by means of a toothed segment-lever actuating a pinion fixed on the axis ot' the comb and operated by a cam.

\Fig. 6 shows the apparatus for cleaning the combs. Vis a brush-cylinder, driven in the direction ofthe arrow. Wis a cylinder' covered with plush, leather, india-rubber, or bristles..

The covering ot' plush, leather, or india-rubber (which may either be plain or tinted) may either envelop its whole surface or be placed at intervals apart in the direction of' the radii of the cylinder. The cylinder W is journaled in a lever, o, at each end, and turns in the direction ofthe arrow.

As shown in Fig. 4, the arm c is made in two parts, which is to allow of adjusting the axes Y and w at varying' distances apart, the

two portionsof the arm o being secured together by a screw-bolt andserrated joint. c represents the pitch-line of a toothed wheel gearing with another toothed wheel, represented by the pitch-line fu. Instead ot' wheel 12' gearing directly with wheel e, two intermediate gearwheels may be employed, in order to simplify the machine. l

The surface speed of' brush Vis greater than that of cylinder W, in order that it ma y collect the waste from the latter.

X is a cam actuating lever X and connecting-rod X". G, Fig. 1, is a lever-arm carrying the oscillating nipper, which draws out and pieces up the web, said arm moving on G as a center. H is a crank, which imparts the oscillatin g movement toarm G, and consequently to the nipper, by means of levers, connectingrods, and cranks H H H" Hm', the amplitude of the oscillating movement being determined by the position of pivot I, which is fixed adjustably in a slot in Il, so as to enable the point at which the nipper seizes the filaments to be varied. K is a cam operating a lever, K, by which the nipper is opened and closed.

To regulate the pressure with which the jaw S closes on the jaw It, said jaw S is pivoted to the lever K and connected to a lever, L, fulcrumcd on said lever K, and connected therewith at its free end by a slot, Z, and clampscrew l', a set-screw, l2, heilig provided to accurately adjust the lever before it is locked by the clamp.

M, Figs. 9, 10, 11,12, and 13, is a pad ofindiarubber, to render the pressure elastic. N is an endless apron, of' leather or other material, which is shifted at each stroke ot the nipper by a clutch, (separately represented in Fig. 2,) consisting of a ratchet-sleeve, 5, engaging with the shaft 6 of the apron N, and having a rigid arm, 7 which receives a reciprocating movement from the connecting-rod 8, so as to rotate the said apron-shaft (i intermittently in one direction. Ihis apron may be applied to either the upper or lower jaw, or to both the upper and lower jaws, and serves, together with the rollers, to draw along the web of com bed fibers.

O O O" 0 are pairs of rollers, which, each time thejaws are opened, draw along the web of combed filaments to a sufficient distance, allowing the tail ends of the fibers to project for piecin g up the web. Instead of using rollers, the web may be received between two cndless leather aprons as it leaves the nipper.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a conductor upon which the web travels. 2 is a funnel, and 3 4 are two small drawing rollers. All these parts are carried upon the arms of the oscillating nipper, and move therewith. rIhns the web will be formed into a sliver before it is left unsupported and while partaking in the oscillating motion of the nipper.

b b', Fig. 14, are two bars, which, at the moment the oscillating nipper pieces up the web,

sustain in a straight and close condition the front ends of the web in front ot' the nippers B B'.

IOO

IIO

224.428A i l s The action of the machine is as follows: Re-

ferring to Fig. 13, the front ends of the iibers project from the feed apparatus and stationary nippers B B', vwhile the tail ends protrude from the oscillating vnippers R S.v The latter then move back to the position shown in Fig. 9, to piece up the two ends of the web.l They then close and nip .the web tightly, whilethe two jaws oi' the nippers B B' are pressed lightly together, causing them', in conjunction with the toothed or porcupine cylinder, to suption oi' the web immediatelyfollowing, in order to prevent'loose iibers and tufts formed during the operation of combing being drawn out. The nippers B S `then advance a sufiicient distance for comb C to enter the web and ratus, which thus parallelizes, cleans, and 'prepares them for the work of the iinisher-comb.

At this moment (see Fig. the stationary nippers B B' close tightly. and the comb commences to move to comb the front-ends of the iibers protruding from the said nippers. Im.v mediately there is room betweenthe comb G and nippers B B' `for the comb C' it descends, and both combs C C' continue to move .along and comb the front ends ot' the web. The comb C then descends, (see Fig. 11,)j'comb C completes the combing of `the front ends, and then rises in `order to be cleaned, as hereinafter described, and repeat the combing operation. `The actionof the combs may also be va- I ried by making `the upper comb descend first and the lower one then rise behind it. The nip-v pers R S, which then arrive at the end of their course, open, (see Fig. 12,) andthe rollers 0 O' O" 0"' draw the combed web along a certain distance, leaving the tail ends protruding for piecin g up, after which the nippers move back to the position shown in Fig. 13, in readiness to repeat the operation. I

The porcupine-roller or feed apparatus .has a forward movement imparted to feed the material to be combed, and it may also have a slight backward movement, in order to draw back a part of the combed fiber, so that when the nippers R S seize a fresh portion of the iiber (see Fig. 9) they may lay hold of rather less than the entire length of the combed ends,

and thus have a portion of the web 'twice combed. This is of advantage when preparing short fibers. Ii", however, it is desired to eliminate all iibers under a certain length, the distance between the stationary nippers B B' and oscillating nippers R `S may be so regulated that the latter shall seize the laments at such a distance from the nippers B B', accordin g to the length of the iibers to beeliminated, that all fibers not longer than the distance between B B' andthe point at which nippers R S begin to act will be rejected.

It will thus be seen that the machine may be adjusted to comb short bers, oronly those which exceed a certain length.

Fig. 6 shows the method of cleaning the B', after'which the comb rises and occupies the position shown in i'ull lines. At this mo ment the'cylinder W is moved 011 axisYot' the brush V, and occupies the position seen in Fig. -7. The two cylinders then, clean thev comb, cylinder W reccdes, and comb C' rcturns to the position for repeating the combing operations.

port the front ends of the bers and thepor- 1 `the brush-W on aXisY of the brush V, in oi.'- vder tokavoid` the deposit of'dust upon the web.

X, Fig. l, is a plate of' metal turning with i In the arrangement shown iny Figs. 4 and 5 the cleaning is effected vby slightly oscillating risen `from the lower `to the higher position,

and been oscillatedV slightly and presented to the brush, this oscillating movement being obtained by two toothed segments gearing with two pinions mounted on the ends ofthe combcarrier; but this is not essential to our invention.-

Fig. 8 yshows yet another arrangement, in which the brush-roller W receives motion from a toothed wheel, 0"', on shaft Z, which also drives a gear-wheel, o, on the shaft of the brush-cylinderV. The connecting-rod z causes the arm z to oscillateon Z as a center, and thus moves the cylinder W, carried by said arm, toward or away from brush V.

The action is as follows: The cylinder W 'describes an arc of a circle in the direction Z' IOO toallow the comb to pass, and then asimilar v movement in the opposite direction, Z2, to bring it against the comb and assist in the cleaningoperation. This done, itagain recedes to allow the comb to return to its former posi tion i In the several cases mentioned the brush V is mounted in adjustable bearings, so as to admit of regulating its position.

Fig. 3 represents a front viewl of the improved combing-machine.

It will' be seen that the brushes are carried on two intermediate frames, a a, so as to al- IIS low room beyond the brush-spindle for the comb-levers to work. Y

- instead of making the web lpass over the feed or porcupine cylinder, it may pass beneath, and the center of oscillation ofthe nippers may be brought nearer the front of the machine. According to this process the filaments are drawn Vby nippers through an apparatus which l parallelizes and also cleans them, if desired, this apparatus consisting either of a cylinder with "overlapping pressers, or of other kind, according to the state oi' entanglement, the degree of impurity, or the nature of the tibers.

This preparatory treatment, which parallelizesA and prepares the filaments for the finishingcomb, effected, they are drawn while still held by the nippers, and are parted andcombed. The combsare then stripped or cleaned', and, lastly, the nippers return with the tail ends of the filaments for piecing up the web, and re commence the operation on the front ends of the combed filaments left protruding from the i'eed apparatus. Throughout the coi'nbing operation the front ends ofthe filaments and the portion of the web next thereto are supported by the feed apparatus and stationary nipper, to prevent any loose fibers being drawn out or collected in tufts near the front ends of the filaments, thus avoiding waste.

The mechanical parts comprising the machine have been described, and special importance is attached to the reciprocating nippers or any equivalent attaining the same result. By reciprocating nippel-sl is understood two jaws capable of seizing thc filaments close up against the stationarynippers, or, if t jaws of the latter be opened, oi seizing the lilalnents at the surface ot' the feed or porcupine cylinder. We would remark that only nlppers admit of seizing the filaments close enough lo the cylinder to draw them between its teeth. Two cylinders, or one cylinder with an endless apron, would bring the tangent points at too great a distance therefrom to allow ot' this being done with short filaments.

The following` is what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. The process of cleansing and treating a web of fibrous matter by drawing it asunder, combing the parted ends, repiecing it, drawing, parting, combing, and lepiecinglin a new place, and so on, in succession.

2. The method of cleaning a web of fibrous matter by repeated parting, combing, and repiecing in successive places, and subsequently subjecting it to pressure to com plete the effective joining of the web or sheet.

3. The combination, with a suitable feed apparatus, of the traveling nippers R S and a mechanism for imparting a movement of translation thereto, substantially as herein described, adapting said nippers to seize and draw the front ends of the filaments, as explained.

4. The combination, in a machine for combing or straightening fibers, of two pairs of rcciprocati-ng nippers, one moving relatively to the other, and suitable mechanism for operating them, substantially in the manner described.

5. The combination ot the nippers B B', one or more reciprocating' combs, C G', suitable drawing mechanism, and mechanism for oper ating the above-named parts, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination of thc nippers B B', combs G C', having vertical and horizontal movements,-aiul suitable mechanism for operating the above-named parts, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination, with the combs G and C', oftwocleaning-brushes,onemoving around the other, and suitable mechanism for operating them, substantially as shown anddescribed.

S. The combination of the jaws R S, an endless apron, N, on one ofthe said jaws, the two pairs of drawing-rollers O O O 0', and the pressure-rollers 3 4, all mounted in a movable frame, with suitable mechanism for imparting motion thereto, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

- 9. The combination of stretching and holding nippers R S and B B and combs C C', of successive fineness, adapted to operate in succession, the finer after the coarser, on a thinner portion of the web.

PAUL HElLMANN-DUCOMMUN.

CHARLES VINCENT STEINLEN. Vitnesses:

AUG SKEfrz,

L. SPOERLEIN. 

